Setting off from Cirencester's perfectly-placed Cotswold Airport, the first leg of your exploration of ancient English history gives you ample time for your instructor to introduce you to controlling your classic Tiger Moth biplane as you travel East towards your first turning point, the Iron Age Uffington Castle and the striking chalk-cut prehistoric figure of the Uffington White Horse, England’s oldest White Horse. Wikipedia states that the best view of this impressive monument is from the air and who are we to argue?! Don’t miss Dragon Hill; legend states that this is where St George slew the Dragon - a more English story is hard to imagine!
Finest Hour Tiger Moths over Uffington, May 2022 (Lewis Hurley)
Now its time to fly yourself over a feast of archaeological treasures. Following the ancient Ridgeway to the South West, we take in the neolithic barrow and tomb at Wayland’s Smithy and Alfred’s Castle, an Iron Age hill fort close to the site of King Alfred’s victory over the Danes at the Battle of Ashbury in 871AD.
Continuing South West, we pass Barbury Castle and the Hackpen Horse on our way to the Neolithic henge at Avebury. If there's time, we might even take a closer look at Silbury Hill and the West Kennet Long Barrow :-) As you fly yourself back to Cotswold Airport, you might just get to see the 'secret white horse'...
Flight duration: 60 minutes
Minimum age 14 years. Maximum weight 18 stone. Participants should be between 4’11’’ & 6’7’’ and be agile enough to get in and out of the aircraft. For full terms please click here.
